Is a pressure washer a necessary wash tool? (read before voting)

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by SVR

.. Because of [Accumulator] I adopted a 4 bucket, 6 mitt method and that number will only go up, maybe 6 buckets..

Heh heh, I stopped at five (one for wheels) But considering that I do all my washes with the foamgun, those four buckets are still kinda overkill anyhow. But as ybajwa implied, I overkill the washh process in general.

If I had super soft paint (well, I *do* on the Jag, but it doesn't really get dirty) I'd *really* make sure I was being as gentle as possible. I still think I save time overall by spending forever on a wash but hardly any time on polishing, but it might be a toss up. And yeah, it *is* a hassle to find time to do one of my washes at times.

[Neo62381]

Accumulator, where did you purchase the BHB you are using?

[G35stilez]

Originally Posted by SpoiledMan

How about pressure washing after soaking with foam?

My pressure washer is safe enough to get the job done (1300psi) and comes with a foaming attachment and reservoir for soap. It's a Black & Decker model and is available at www.amazon.com


I love the piece and don't know where I'd be without it.

[Accumulator]

Neo62381- I have a few of them, but the one I was referring to came from AutoGeek.

[OutlawTitan]

I couldn't vote for either option. I would never use a pressure washer on my car. I would rather use QEW on a salt covered filthy car than a pressure washer. It's just my opinion but I think there is a greater risk of marring with a pressure washer than from QEW in every circumstance. I just don't like the thought of using pressure to remove salt, dirt or debris of any kind.

[Reflections]

Originally Posted by GSRstilez

My pressure washer is safe enough to get the job done (1300psi) and comes with a foaming attachment and reservoir for soap. It's a Black & Decker model and is available at www.amazon.com


I love the piece and don't know where I'd be without it.

Sean you're mobile right? How're you bypassing the drainage laws with soap runoff etc?

[David Fermani]

I know i'm going to catch hell about this drawn out subject but it's just what I've experienced up to now:
I managed an indoor do-it-yourself car wash that had 13 bays and I never experienced any person whose vehicle had any molding, trim or part damaged or loosened as a result of pressure washing. I worked there almost 10 years and saw 100's of thousands of customers go through our doors. Our pressure washers output was between 1300-1500 psi. We also power washed every vehicle that was detailed at my detail shop and again never experienced any problem over that 10 year period. In both settings there were people of various intelligence using these pressure washers. I handled every complaint under the sun, but never any that pertained to damage created by the pressure. It's my opinion, from experience, that pressure washing a vehicle is not harmful and I don't see how someone can effectively clean the wheel wells and/or undercarriage of a vehicle without some type of high pressure washing, especially in a road salt atmosphere. I'm not going to say it can't and isn't being done, but it's so much easier and quicker with a pressure washer. Yes, I do believe that if someone gets too close with the gun to an area with multiple stone chips or repaint work that has not been properly prepped, there could be a problem.
Again, this is just my opinion from what I've experienced.

[ybajwa]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Heh heh, I stopped at five (one for wheels) But considering that I do all my washes with the foamgun, those four buckets are still kinda overkill anyhow. But as ybajwa implied, I overkill the washh process in general.

If I had super soft paint (well, I *do* on the Jag, but it doesn't really get dirty) I'd *really* make sure I was being as gentle as possible. I still think I save time overall by spending forever on a wash but hardly any time on polishing, but it might be a toss up. And yeah, it *is* a hassle to find time to do one of my washes at times.

Accumulator, I didn't mean to imply its overkill, just that I don't find as much time and also I don't quite have the same level of dedication I've seen on these forums.

You make a very good point about the polishing, in the past I used a sheepskin mitt which gave me a practically scratch free wash, its just a PITA to keep clean, but perhaps worth switching back considering the polishing factor.

[Neo62381]

what about a soap that has extremely high cleaning abilities, to put in the foam gun. Is there such a soap, something that mabe lacks in dwell time/sudsyness, that would make a good pre-spray? I'm also considering Zippymbr's idea of using QEW as a pre-spray.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by Neo62381

what about a soap that has extremely high cleaning abilities, to put in the foam gun. Is there such a soap, something that mabe lacks in dwell time/sudsyness, that would make a good pre-spray?

Nothing I've tried worked especially well for this. Some presoak is good, but it's never all *that* good. Even the Statmosphere Stage 1 prewash wasn't anything special.

And I'd worry that anything that potent might compromise my LSP.

[Neo62381]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

And I'd worry that anything that potent might compromise my LSP.

Very true, dumb idea on my behalf. Would it be too much trouble to ask for a link the the BHB you are referring to? I've looked on Autogeek but there are a lot of brushes!

edit - nevermind i believe i found it BHB

[Lowejackson]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Heh heh, I stopped at five (one for wheels) But considering that I do all my washes with the foamgun, those four buckets are still kinda overkill anyhow.

One bucket for all the wheels, well I never expected such an admission

Steven (still reckless with 2 buckets)